Thursday, December 31, 2009

Aquired via trade by the New York Yankees with Johnny James and Lee Thomas to the Los Angeles Angels for Bob Cerv and Tex Clevenger on May 8, 1961.Later purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Los Angeles Angels on March 14, 1963.

ANGELS DEBUT:Entered the game in the 8th as a replacement for Fritz Brickell (PH). In two innings of relief gave up no runs and 1 hit and fanned 5 in a 3-2 loss vs Boston at Wrigley Field, LA on May 10, 1961.

wikipedia:He was known for his fastball pitching, but also noted for his very poor vision and thick glasses. He was rumored to have hit a player waiting in the on-deck circle, supposedly because he could not see which way to throw to home plate.He was originally signed by the St. Louis Browns (now the Baltimore Orioles) as a free agent before the 1949 season. His first major league game was on September 25, 1954 (by which time the Browns had moved to Baltimore). That was the only game he ever played for the Orioles.On September 21, 1956 he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics as part of a trade involving three other players (Jim Pisoni and Duren went to the A's in exchange for Al Pilarcik and Art Ceccarelli). The Athletics and Yankees did a lot of trading in that era, and on June 15, 1957 Duren, Pisoni, and Harry Simpson were traded to the Yankees for Billy Martin, Ralph Terry, Woodie Held, and Bob Martyn. Duren's best year in terms of winning percentage was 1958, when he won 6 and lost 4 for the Yankees; and he received the first of his 3 All-Star selections as well. He has also been retroactively credited with saving 20 games in 1958, the high mark in the American League that year. In 1959, his won-lost record was much poorer, but his earned run average of 1.88 was the best of his career. Duren was a showman. In those days the Yankee bullpen was a part of the short-porch right field and only a low chain link fence served as the boundary. When called upon by Casey Stengel to relieve, he wouldn’t use the gate, but would rather hop that fence with one hand and begin a slow walk to the mound with his blue Yankee warm-up jacket covering his pitching arm; even in the hottest days. When he finally took the ball from Casey and began his warm-ups, the first pitch was always a blazing fastball 20 feet over the catcher’s head. The 2nd warm-up pitch was a bit lower (but not slower) until on his 5th warm-up Ryne would finally find the plate. With his thick coke bottle glasses, no batter ever dug in against Duren.Duren stayed with the Yankees until May 8, 1961, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels; Duren, Johnny James, and Lee Thomas went to the Angels in exchange for Tex Clevenger and Bob Cerv. Shortly after being traded to the Angels, he struck out seven successive Red Sox batters, an American League record.

ANGELS DEBUT:Entered the game in the 6th as a pitching replacement for starter Jerry Casale. Gave up 1 run on 2 hits in 2.1 innings of an 8-7 win at Wrigley Field, LA on May 9, 1961.

ANGELS RECORD:1961Took two losses and no wins or saves in 71.2 innings with a 5.30 ERA.Ended his professional career as an Angel on October 1, 1961.

Personal Note

baseball-reference:He played only one game in his debut season, 1958. Appearing in relief for Art Ditmar (who had given up seven earned runs in six innings of work) on September 6, James pitched three innings of scoreless baseball. He did walk four batters and strikeout only one. He also had one at-bat in that game-he struck out.He didn't play any big league ball in 1959, but he did appear in 28 games in relief for the Yankees in 1960. He earned a spot on the team by being a part of a Spring Training no-hitter. In 43 innings of work, he posted a solid 5 and 1 record, allowing 21 earned runs and striking out 29 batters. He walked 26. He also saved two games.1961 would end up being his final season in the Majors. He pitched in only one game for the Yankees that year before being shipped off to the Angels with Ryne Duren for Tex Clevenger and Bob Cerv on May 8. In 36 games with the Angels, he posted a 5.30 ERA. Overall that season, he walked 54 batters and struck out only 43. His record was 0 and 2. James gave up the 20th home run of Roger Maris' then record-setting 61 home run season.His career ended on October 1 of that year. He had a 5 and 3 record in 66 career games, starting only 3 of them. In 119 innings of work, he walked 84 and struck out 73, finishing with a 4.76 ERA. Although he did not collect a single hit in 17 at-bats (he struck out 8 times), he did score three runs so one can assume he was used as a pinch runner a few times in his career. He was a perfect fielder, committing zero errors.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Angels on January 10, 1961.

ANGELS DEBUT:

Late inning defensive replacement for Steve Bilko, but played third base at Wrigley Field, LA on April 29, 1961. In one at bat in the seventh he struck out.

ANGELS RECORD:

1961

In 84 games hit .240.

Played his final professional Major League game on October 1, 1961 and was later released on October 19, 1961.

Was an Angels coach from 1962-1963 and again from 1968-1971.

wikipedia:

Bridges had an 11-year career in American Major League Baseball from 1951 to 1961. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals of the National League, and the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels of the American League. He appeared at second base, shortstop, third base and, occasionally, in the outfield.Bridges had a career batting average of .247 and never hit more than 5 home runs or stole more than 6 bases in a season. Nevertheless, he was elected to the American League All-Star team in 1958.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Purchased by the Los Angeles Angels from the Washington Senators on April 7, 1961

ANGELS DEBUT:

Entered game in the 7th as a pitching replacement for starter Jerry Casale, walking two and giving up a run before getting out of the inning, at Detroit on April 21, 1961.

As an Angel he appeared in his final Major League game on May 2, 1961.

ANGELS RECORD:

1961

Appeared in 1 full inning over the course of 2 games and posted a 9.00 ERA.

baseball-reference:

Ray Semproch was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1951, but he did not make his big league debut until many years later - on April 15, 1958, against the Cincinnati Reds. The year prior, he'd gone 12-4 with a 2.64 ERA for the Triple-A Miami Marlins. In his first major league game, he gave up a hit and a walk, struck out two, and earned the win in a three inning relief appearance.He burst onto the major league scene in 1958, going 13-11 as a rookie for the 1958 Phillies. The biography at www.baseballlibrary.com says he was leading the league at mid-season with 11 victories.On November 28, 1960, he was drafted by the Washington Senators in the Rule V Draft (he and John Gabler were the first two players acquired by the "new" Washington Senators of 1961).He closed out his major league career in the inaugural season of the Los Angeles Angels.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

This is one of my favorite photos of my Father. This photo was taken in 1982 when I was a senior and my parents came to watch me run the mile relay in the CIF State Finals (California). Leading off the relay, I false started, and being the State meet you are automatically disqualified after the first false start. I'll always remember the hug he gave me afterwards. Anyhow, he is also fully responsible for my baseball fanaticism, and my devotion to the Angels.

We grew up in Fountain Valley, not far from Anaheim Stadium. I grew up seeing Nolan Ryan pitch, and Frank Tanana, Mickey Rivers and Joe Rudi, and getting autographs down the 3rd base line. I was a Junior Angel for many years.

My dad gave me this ticket stub from Nolan Ryans 3th no-hitter, which he had been in attendance. He had two such stubs. My dad couldn't remember who he had taken to the game, but I like to imagine that it was me, although I would have been 10 and have no recolection of ever being there. It's nice to dream.

Thought I'd throw in a 74 Topps Nolan Ryan card so you can visualize him throwing that no-hitter.

In 1979 my dad scored this game between the Angels and the Tigers, a Nolan Ryan start where he struck out 16 batters, and got the complete game win.

I came across this scoresheet of my fathers when I was around 19. I never paid any attention to scoring games but I was now fascinated with the idea of showing what actually happened in a ballgame, that here was actual proof that my Dad was at this game where Nolan Ryan struck out 16 Detroit Tigers. This is what got me addicted to scoring games. Now I'm so obsessed that I might see something historical and not have any record of it that I can't go to a game to just watch it, I have to score it as well.

The top of the order didn't fare so well against Ryan's heater.

He also passed on this old 1979 media guide.

I loved the idea that he kept a running total of the Angels record that year, with a weekly win/loss total at end of each week. Red is a loss and blue is a win. Looks like they had a nine-game winning streak in April.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels from the Cleveland Indians in the 1960 expansion draft (after draft's completion, original draft selection Bob Wilson chose retirement) on November 26, 1962.

Custom Index card

ANGELS DEBUT:Entered game in the 8th in relief of Ron Kline at New York on April 20, 1961. Gave up no runs on 1 hit in 1 inning pitched.Later Sent by the Los Angeles Angels to the Kansas City Athletics to complete an earlier deal made on July 21, 1962. The Los Angeles Angels sent a player to be named later and $35,000 to the Kansas City Athletics for Dan Osinski on November 26, 1962.

ANGELS RECORD:1961-1962Went 20-16 in 46 starts with a 4.04 ERA.

baseball-reference:Canadian born left-hander Ted Bowsfield was refered to as "that fella that throws them ground balls" by Casey Stengel after he beat the Yankees three straight times in 1958. Ted had first come up with the Boston Red Sox from the Minneapolis Millers that year, and three of his four wins came against the Yankees.He was back in the American Association for most of the 1959 season before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1960. He went to the expansion Los Angeles Angels in 1961 and had his finest year in the majors with a 11-8 record. He finished out his years in the American League working out of the Kansas City Athletics bullpen in 1963 and 1964 with a 37-39 mark.Ted then returned to the Los Angeles Angels organization in public relations before becoming the team's traveling secretary. He later became the stadium director of Anaheim Stadium.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Purchased by the Los Angeles Angels from the St. Louis Cardinals on April 10, 1961.

ANGELS DEBUT:

Entered game in the 6th in relief of Ned Garver at New York on April 20, 1961. Allowed 1 run on 2 hits in 2 innings. Did not bat.

Later was selected off waivers by the Detroit Tigers from the Los Angeles Angels on August 10, 1961.

ANGELS RECORD:

1961

In 26 games (12 as a starter) went 3-6 with a 4.90 ERA.

baseball-reference:

As a starting pitcher for the Pirates in 1952 and from 1955 to 1959, Ron struggled to a 53-83 record, leading the National League in losses in both 1956 and 1958. He was traded to the Cardinals after the '59 season, missing out on Pittsburghs 1960 World Series Championship. He moved over to the American League in 1961 with the expansion Los Angeles Angels and the Detroit Tigers before becoming one of the better relievers while with the Washington Senators from 1963 to 1966. The 6' 3" right-hander had four straight good years in Washington, picking up 73 saves including a league-leading 29 in 1965.After going 7-1 with 5 saves for the Twins in 1967, he came full circle back to Pittsburgh in 1968 as a polished veteran bullpen ace, going 12-5 plus seven saves with an excellent 1.68 ERA. Ron was then with San Francisco, Boston and his tenth and final team, the Atlanta Braves, before concluding his 17 year career in 1970 with a record of 114-144 and 108 saves in 736 games.Kline was the only pitcher to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers / Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Giants / San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees and the New York Mets during regular season games. Warren Spahn and Vern Law also accomplished the feat but their victories against the Yankees came in World Series competition.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Drafted 8th by the Los Angeles Angels from the Kansas City Athletics in the 1960 expansion draft.

Custom Draft card

ANGELS DEBUT:

Starting pitcher in game 2 of a double-header at New York on April 20, 1961. Gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings of a 4-2 loss.

Played his final Major League game on June 4, then was released by the Angels on June 10, 1961 ending his baseball career at the age of 35.

Custom Index card

ANGELS RECORD:

1961

0-3 with a 5.59 ERA in 29 innings (2 starts).

baseballlibrary:

Garver became the only 20th century pitcher to win 20 games in a season for a team which lost 100 when he went 20-12 for the 1951 Browns. He led the AL in complete games (24) that season, as he had the previous year (22). His $25,000 contract in 1952 made him the highest-paid Brown in history. Garver had batted .407 in the Ohio State League in 1944, so it was no surprise when he batted .305 in 1951 to pace the Browns. He hit sixth on occasion, and had a .218 lifetime BA with seven HR. His zeal for hitting was arrested midway through his career when Early Wynn nearly beaned him. Garver lost a league-high 17 with St. Louis in 1949. He had very little trouble getting Mickey Mantle out, but found Vic Wertz a particular thorn in his side."I was a sinker-slider pitcher. I had a pretty good sinker, and I had a pretty good slider. Ted Williams will tell you that my slider was a pitch that he had trouble picking up the spin on."

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Drafted 21st by the Los Angeles Angels from the Chicago White Sox in the 1960 expansion draft.

Custom Draft card

ANGELS DEBUT:Entered game in the 9th as a pinch hitter for Tom Morgan and grounded out, at Boston on April 17, 1961.Later traded by the Los Angeles Angels to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jacke Davis on December 11, 1962.

baseball-reference:Earl Averill played seven years in the majors, and held down several different positions in the field.Averill broke in as a catcher in 1956, but played solely third base during his time in the majors in 1958. For the rest of his career he was primarily a catcher except in 1962 when he was mostly a left fielder. In most years he split his time between catcher, the infield and the outfield.His best year with the bat was 1961, in the inaugural year of the Angels, when he posted a line of .266/.384/.489.Son of Hall of Famer Earl Averill. Bob Feller played with both Earl Averills. Earl the son was born in 1931, during Earl the father's third year with the Cleveland Indians.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Purchased by the Los Angeles Angels from the Washington Senators on January 4, 1961.

ANGELS DEBUT:Entered game in the 9th as a pinch pinch hitter for Ed Sadowski and grounded out at Boston on April 17, 1961.Later purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Los Angeles Angels on March 25, 1963.

Custom Index Card

ANGELS RECORD:1961-1963Batted .246 in 25 games as a utility player.

baseball-reference:Before the 1957 season, Leo Burke was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent. On December 14, 1960 aftere spended time in the minors the Washington Senators plucked him from the Orioles in the expansion draft and in turn sold Leo to the Los Angeles Angels.Leo made six appearances with the Angels in 1961, did not make an impression and was sent to the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers where he hit .252 in 42 games and wound up for the balance of the year with the Salt Lake City Bees. With the Bees he was in 90 contests, hit 16 homers and had a .280 batting average.1962 saw Burke get into 19 games for the Angels, hit .266 and spend the rest of the season with the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers where he hit .278 and led the American Association with 27 homers. This performance led to the St. Louis Cardinals purchasing his contract on March 25, 1963. He appeared in 30 games with the 1963 Cardinals and on June 24, 1963 they traded him to the Chicago Cubs for Barney Schultz.